Scenic Backway.
That’s what it’s called on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests map.
Road 055.  Near Limber Pine Nature Trail head.
And it’s my favorite place to escape during summer and fall months.

The trail starts up near the summit on the boarder of Rich County and is open to all vehicle types.
It is gravel paved most of the way and loops around to Meadowville.

The first section borders on Bear Lake’s famous sinks.   Along the way you can take an ATV detour to Peter Sinks,  a natural sinkhole that is one of the coldest places in the United States.
Even in the summer, the bottom of the sinkhole rarely goes four consecutive days without freezing.  It is so cold near the bottom of the hole that trees are unable to grow.

Next you will enter pine lined roads.  If you wait and listen, you can hear the wind
like a wave come crashing through the limbs.  It’s cozy and remote and you feel like the only one for miles, which you probably are.

In the fall the way is scattered by patches of golden aspens.  And brief glimpses of Bear Lake.
Each golden curve makes you want to know what is around the next corner.

About half way you can detour and visit Temple Peak if you are in a RZR or 4wheeler.

Fall months bring campers and hunters.  So be cautious and stick to trails.

Just a small section at the end of the trail is rough dirt road, but my SUV handled it fine.

At the other end of the loop, the only road sign in Meadowville is a “Mountain Road” street sign.

Unfortunately the trail is closed after the first big snow fall as the entrance gets blocked by mounds of snow.  But I highly recommend hitting this route during the fall.

So next time you are in Bear Lake, check out the many trails and explore beyond the lake.